System Design Guide: Sizing Your Flex Matrix

System Design Guide: Sizing Your Flex Matrix

Overview

The FLEX Matrix is a modular system — the chassis determines maximum slot capacity, and the cards you install determine actual I/O count. This guide walks through how to size the chassis and card mix for any deployment.

Understanding Inputs and Outputs

  • Each FLEX-HDMI8IN card adds 8 HDMI inputs
  • Each FLEX-HDMI12OUT card adds 12 HDMI outputs (for nearby displays)
  • Each FLEX-CAT12OUT card adds 12 CATx outputs (for remote displays via FLEX-CATRX, up to 100m)
  • HDMI12OUT and CAT12OUT cards are interchangeable in output slots — mix them freely

Chassis Capacity

ChassisMax InputsMax OutputsMax Input CardsMax Output CardsRack Space
FLEX-MF8X10810112U
FLEX-MF16X201620222U
FLEX-MF24X362436334U
FLEX-MF24X602460354U

Choosing the Right Chassis

  • Up to 8 sources, 10 displays: FLEX-MF8X10
  • Sports bar, up to 16 sources, 20 displays: FLEX-MF16X20
  • Large venue, up to 24 sources, 36 displays: FLEX-MF24X36
  • Maximum density, up to 24 sources, 60 displays: FLEX-MF24X60

Growth tip: Start with the FLEX-MF8X10 at minimum card count and add cards as the install grows. You never need to replace the chassis.

Card Mix Planning

Example 1: Sports Bar — 16 inputs, 8 HDMI + 12 CATx outputs

  • Chassis: FLEX-MF16X20
  • Input cards: 2× FLEX-HDMI8IN = 16 inputs
  • Output cards: 1× FLEX-HDMI12OUT (8 nearby TVs, 4 ports unused) + 1× FLEX-CAT12OUT (12 remote displays via FLEX-CATRX)
  • Total: 16 in / 20 out

Example 2: University Campus — 12 inputs, 36 CATx outputs

  • Chassis: FLEX-MF24X36
  • Input cards: 2× FLEX-HDMI8IN = 16 inputs (12 used, 4 spare)
  • Output cards: 3× FLEX-CAT12OUT = 36 CATx outputs, all with FLEX-CATRX receivers
  • PoC on all CAT outputs eliminates local power at each display

Example 3: Maximum Deployment — 24 inputs, 60 CATx outputs

  • Chassis: FLEX-MF24X60
  • Input cards: 3× FLEX-HDMI8IN = 24 inputs
  • Output cards: 5× FLEX-CAT12OUT = 60 CATx outputs
  • FLEX-CATRX receivers at all 60 display locations, PoC-powered

Output Port Counting

When mixing card types: the total usable outputs = sum of all installed output card ports. Unused card slots do not count. A FLEX-MF24X60 with 3 FLEX-CAT12OUT cards installed has 36 usable outputs, not 60 — add more cards to reach the chassis maximum.

Video Wall and Multiview Planning

  • Each video wall zone consumes the number of outputs equal to the number of displays in the wall (e.g., a 3×3 wall uses 9 outputs)
  • Multiview (Quad View) consumes one output but shows four inputs — no extra output ports needed
  • Plan output allocation: normal routing + video wall outputs + multiview outputs must not exceed total installed output card capacity

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